Let Anne Coach YOU

There are probably a gillion ways you could answer that question. Let me ask it this way: is your writing going the way you want it to?

In some circles I’m known as “the writing coach.” That’s because these days a good portion of my freelance writing business is helping other writers reach success.

Writers and people who want to learn how to write hire writing coaches or writing mentors for a variety of reasons. People new to the writing business often have questions like these:

How an I tell if what I have to say is important enough to get published?

How do I get the idea from my head to the paper?

How do I protect my ideas?

Should I start my own blog? If so, what should it be about?

Others, perhaps more experienced writers, or maybe with little experience writing have similar questions around writing a book. They may be phrased like this:

I really want to write a book but I don’t even know where to start! How does one start writing a book?

I’ve started a book but keep getting bogged down – what should I do?

Still others have taken classes and still aren’t sure what to do next.

One truth is none of us were born knowing how to write. Learning to write for publication, or to create a successful job, or get a book written is not part of what we grow up learning. We hardly even have the vocabulary for what we want to write and do with our writing.

Another way to frame these ideas might be to ask you: Do you long for someone to tell you yes, you can write, then show you the way?

As a writing coach I’m one who can tell you the truth about your writing and show you exactly what you can do about it.

Who am I to say I coach writers?

Hello. My name is Anne Wayman. I’ve been freelance writing successfully for longer than I care to admit – over three decades actually. I’ve done it poorly, I’ve tried to do it the way others told me I should, and finally, I’ve learned how to do it well.

The shift happened when decided to do it the way that felt right for me, with minimum compromise and little shyness over what I believe and what I want to say.

It worked.

And then I discovered I could help other writers find their own way too. Then I discovered I love coaching writers.

What I can do for you as a writing coach

First I can listen, deeply, to what you have to say about your writing and what you want to give with it and what you want to get from it.

I can then reflect back to you what you’ve said reframed in ways that will move you and your writing forward.

Drawing from my own experience and the experience shared with other writers and clients, I will make suggestions and help you decide if those suggestions fit you. If they don’t, we’ll work together to find some that do.

In either case we’ll develop a framework of action and accountability that works for you as you build toward success – success as you define it.

You see, I truly believe that you are the expert on your own life and from that inner knowing can come the kind of writing that will help you share your gifts with others, at a profit.

I can help you get in touch with your inner expertise and your inner writer.

Here’s how the writing coaching might work

If we work together I want to make sure it works for you. There are lots of ways that can happen.

We could start the writing coaching with an hour

I charge $185 in advance for an hour’s worth of coaching which often looks like this: two 20 minute phone calls a week or two apart. During the first call I get an idea of what you want to accomplish, give you an assignment. When you return the assignment I spend about 20 minutes reading it and making comments and then send it back. Our second call is about that assignment – it’s where you ask the questions my suggestions bring up.

Sometimes the pace will be more like three 15 minute calls and two short assignments, or deeper work on one.

During the time we’re working together you get pretty much unlimited email correspondence with me on weekdays – I can answer quick questions, offer a bit of encouragement, etc.

Now, you may want something else for that hour – you might simply want three or phone calls to talk about your book or your job search for the best writing gigs, or… well, I’m not sure, but I’m certainly open.Let’s talk about it by phone or by email.

Price: $185 paid in advance. The whole hour must be used in 30 days or the time is forfeit. If, however, you decide you want to roll this over into the 3 Hour Done in a Month Writing Coaching below, you certainly can and the 30 days will start from when you make that decision.

The 3 Hour Done in a Month Writing Coaching Program

You commit to three hours of coaching and the associated assignments to be completed in 30 days. I’ve found that three hours done in a month is just about right to get your writing shifted in the direction you want it to go.

Here’s how that three hours might look:

A 20 – 30 minute initial phone call talking about what you want and some general ways you’ll get there. Plus an assignment.

Several days later a second 20 – 30 minute call discussing what worked in the assignment and what didn’t. Plus a second assignment.

We continue at this rate, usually one or two calls a week, until we’ve used the 3 hours.

Typically the assignments we agree on are writing – a query, the start of an article or story, a blog post you, etc. You send the assignment to me 36 hours in advance of our call. I make comments and return it to you so we can discuss it and move to what’s next. (Note: I make comments only. I don’t edit or copy edit – that’s a different kind of relationship.

You get a written summary of our conversaton after each session that also accounts for the time and spells out the next assignment..

During the 30 days you’ve got almost unlimited access to me by email and can, with email, arrange a quick phone call or two.

These sessions must be completed in 30 days. If you don’t use all the time in the 30 days, that time is forfeit. We can, of course, renew the agreement for subsequent sessions.

Price: $525 paid in advance – which works out to $175 an hour, a savings of $30 over the month. Enough for a good book perhaps?

Coaching you through writing a book

Because books are, be definition, big projects that generally take a lot of time, each book writing coaching, also known as book doctoring, book fixing, etc., has to be an individual contract. We’ll start like this:

When you contact me I’ll send you a non-disclosure agreementwhich obligates only me and is my promise that you own your work, period.

I’ll then ask for a few pages if you’ve written something, or we’ll discuss what you want to write and our next steps – usually some writing from you.

We’ll decide if we’re working on a book proposal or the whole book.

I’ll write a specific proposal for you, including pricing.

Maybe we’ll do some negotiating.

If you decide to hire me I’ll want some money up front and we’ll set up our first appointment and set up a tentative schedule for the balance of the work.

Not the writing coaching you’re looking for?

Let’s talk about it via email. I’ll be happy to work with you to figure out a program that suits your needs. Or to tell you I’m not the one to help and, if I can point you in the right direction… either way is fine with me.

Got questions? Of course you do

And I’m happy to answer them. Send an email to anne@annewayman.com . Make sure you put Coaching Question in the subject line so I don’t lose you to spam and I’ll do my best to answer it in 24 hours.

How Do I schedule a coaching session or two with you?

Simple – either give me a call or send me an email. I’m near San Diego which means Pacific Time. I’m mostly available Monday through Thursday from 11 am to about 4 pm. If you need an earlier or later time, don’t hesitate to ask and I’ll see what I can do.

All coaching is paid in advance – so your appointment isn’t confirmed until I receive payment.

The easiest is PayPal. You don’t need a PayPal account, just a credit or debit card to use this service. My PayPal email is: anne@aboutfreelancewriting.com – you can simply send the proper amount from: PayPal.com

Or, if you prefer, email or call me and we’ll talk about it and, if you like I can send you an invoice via PayPal or some other way.

You can also send me a check. My address is 2721 B, Highland Ave., National City, CA 91950.